City Receives Grant For Computer Training

A $400,000 grant from the federal Department of Commerce will mean more computers in Hartford schools and more training for students and public housing residents.

The money will go to establish six ``21st Century classrooms'' in three Hartford schools, and to support the Hartford Housing Authority's ongoing ``campus of learners'' program, which offers computer training and promotes use of the Internet throughout the city.

Weaver High School, Fox Middle School and Annie Fisher elementary school will get $203,970 to set up advanced computer labs in classrooms. The project will be coordinated by the Connecticut Pre-Engineering Program, a group that works to encourage more students from minority groups to study math and science.

Working with the public schools, the group hopes to get more students working with computers to encourage them to consider careers in science and technology. A key element will be promoting communication with schools outside of Hartford via computer.

``Let's say they are going to do a project on the space shuttle or space station. Students will be able to dial up NASA, download information, make contacts with countries abroad,'' said Glenn Cassis, executive director of the Connecticut Pre-Engineering Program. Other partners in the project, besides the public schools, are United Technologies, SNET, the Urban League and Talcott Mountain Science Center.

Another $196,452 of the grant will support an ongoing program at seven sites where adults and children are trained to use computers, and particularly, the Internet. The Internet is a vast computer-linked network of information sources, from government archives to museums to private business to individuals.

The campus of learners program already has computer training at seven sites in the city.

``The basic goal is to enroll everybody,'' said Paul Capra, the authority's special executive assistant. He said the program offers computer training, with an emphasis on use of the Internet, to young people and housing development residents.

The effort uses existing resources, such as libraries, schools, Trinity College, Capital Community-Technical College and others, to create a network that people can tap into, he said.